Stocking-supporter



(No Model.) I.

' H. L. CARPENTER.

STOCKING SUPPORTBR.

No. 547,846. Patented Oct. 15, 1895.

ANDREW BjRAHAM FNOTOLITNQWASINNGTON. RC.

NITED STATES HENRY L. CARPENTER, on MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,

STOCKlNG-SUPPORTER.

tF-PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters, Patent No. 547,846, dated October 15, 1895.

Application filed October 1'], 18 94. Serial No. 526.191. (No model- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. CARPENTER,

of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved Stocking-Supporter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stocking fasteners or supporters designed to take the place of the various kinds of garters now in vogue.

The object of my invention is to provide a supporter in the form of a small clasp adapted to grip the stocking and some near part of the under-clothing, thereby avoiding the use of e1astics,which are often injurious to the health and detract from the comfort of the wearer.

To this end my invention consists in a metal clasp or gripping device having at its opposite ends pairs of jaws, the pairs being at right angles to each other.

My invention consists, further, in a lockin g device provided in connection with one of the jaws to lock the other, and, further, my invention consists in the particularly simple and economical construction of the clasp and in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which-- Figure 1 shows a device embodying my invention and the manner of applying the same. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the supporter. Fig. 3 is a view of the lower end of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line a: a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of the inner or larger plate alone. Figs. 6 and 7 are top and sectional views showing another form of locking device.

In the drawings the clasp is shown to be made up of a plate 2 and a pivoted jaw-lever 3, practically forming a part thereof, and an upper plate 4, hinged on the lower plate 2. The plates 2 and 4 have the inwardly-turned and preferably serrated lower ends forming the gripping-jaws 5 and 6, which grasp the upper part of the stocking-leg. The j aw-lever 3 is provided with teeth on itsinner side, and the part of the plate 2 opposite the jaw-lever is also serrated, between which and the jawlever a portion of the under-clothing is placed.

The opposite end 7 of the jaw-lever projects outwardly beyond the plate, and by pressing in upon this projection theother end of the jaw-lever will move away from the part of the plate 2 forming the other jaw. The plate 4 is provided with downwardly-extending lugsS, which overlap and are pivotally connected to similar lugs 9, extending upwardly from the plate 2. A pin 10 is passed through the overlapping lugs from one side of the device to the other and forms the pivotal connection between the upper and lower plates. A spring 11 is wound around the pin 10 and has one end bearing against the under side of the plate 4, while the other end extends out over the jaws 3 and has its end secured under a lip or projection 12 thereon. The projecting end 7 of the jaw-lever 3 has an inwardlyturned extension 13, which laps over the edge of the plate 4 when a portion of the underclothes has been placed between the j aw'lever 3 and the portion of the part 2 forming the other jaw, and thereby forms a lock preventing the jaws 5 and 6 from separating while the device is in use. Another locking device is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the plate 4 is provided with an opening 14, through which the end of a stud 15, secured to the jaw-lever 3, is arranged to pass when the jaws 5 and 6 are separated when the device is not in use. When in use, the upper end of the stud l5.will be moved away from beneath the opening 14 in the upper plate 4, so that the jaws 5 and 6 cannot be separated until the jaw-lever 3 is disengaged from the underclothing and returned to its normal position.

It is obvious that the device may be varied considerably in the details of its construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A stocking supporter consisting of a double jawed fastener wherein the pairs of jaws are at right angles to one anotheryet in the same or parallel planes and means in connection with one jaw for locking the other, whereby the latter will be tightly closed, substantially as described.

2. A stocking supporter, consisting of a' double-clasp having two pairs of jaws, and

means in eonnectionwith one pair of jaws for locking the other pair, andsaid locking mechanism being arranged to permit the simulta neous closing of both pairs of jaws when the supporter is in use, substantially as described.

A stocking supporter, consisting of the plates pivoted upon one another and having their engaging ends provided with jaws or clamping edges, one of the plates being cut away at the opposite end, a pivoted lever having an end within the space, the adjacent edges of said lever or plate serving as jaws, and a spring pressing said lever against said edges, substantially as described.

4:. A stocking supporter, consisting of the plates pivoted upon one another and having their engaging ends provided-withjaws on clamping edges, one of the plates being cut away at the opposite endand a pivoted lever having an end to fill the space, the adjacent edges of said lever or plate serving as jaws, a spring pressing said lever against said edges; and a lockingdevice on said lever to engage said second plate, substantially as desoribedl 5. Theconihination in a stocking supporter, of the two plates pivoted upon one another; and having their engaging ends providedwitlfl clamping jaws,one of said plates having 1 a clamping edge at its opposite edgeaand at right angles to the other, a-lever pivotedong Said plate and having a corresponding clampingedgaand a single spring adapted to operate said plates and said lever, substantially as described.

6. A stocking supporter, consisting of a lower plate, provided with the pivoted jaw lever 3 forming one side of the jaws in the end of said plate, said lower plate being providedtwithaclamping edge at one end, a second plate pivoted upon said lower plate and also provided with a clamping edge to engage the edge of said lower plate, and said part 3 being provided with a part 7 extending laterally from between the two plates for moving one of the jaws, substantially as described.

7. A stockingwsupporter, consisting of a lowerplate,the pivoted jaw lever 3 in substantially thesamelplanewith said plate and forming with one edgeiithereof a clamping jaw,and said lower plate ibeingalso provided with a clamping edge at lone end,-a second plate pivoted upon saidlower plateand also having a clam ping edge to engago the edge of said lower plate,- for the; purpose set forth -In testiinony whereof I have hereunto set myhand thistllthgdaylofi October, Ax; D. 189i.

FIIENRY1LH CARPENTER. In presence of- "FREDERIGK S. LYON, 

